Love letters from the Gulag

Lev and Svetlana Mishchenko are proof that love can conquer all, even war, imprisonment and torture. For eight years, the couple wrote weekly love letters to each other while Lev was locked in a Soviet Gulag. Their story is remarkable for a variety of reasons. First, consider how Svetlana maintained her love for Lev and waited for his release, even though she was denied access to the man she...

Feature by Heather Seggel

For some readers, summer means enough time to tackle a serious work of history. Other readers relish the vicarious thrills of true crime and courtroom drama, while armchair travelers settle in for an exciting new journey (and save a bundle on luggage fees). These books share one trait vital to any summer read: unputdownability. BATTLE BETWEEN OLD AND NEWIf you know anything about the...